Trish Magwood photo credit: Brandon Barré photo

The kids are out of school, at home, excited about the holiday season and full of energy. Instead of letting their enthusiasm get the best of you, funnel it in to some positive and artistic projects. Baking is one of the best ways to create some lasting (and messy) holiday memories with your kids. Tie on the aprons, turn on the festive music and let the magic begin with “kid-friendly” holiday recipes that will inspire creativity and bring a smile to every family member.

“A classic recipe to make with your kids during the holidays is a gingerbread house,” says Trish Magwood, chef and mother of three. “Because the recipe is traditionally precarious, I have a great suggestion to keep spirits up (as well as the roof). By substituting a Rice Krispies Square mixture for the wall and roof, you can avoid caved-in houses and unhappy cooks!”

After the base is built, let the creativity flow and watch a fantasy house unfold with colourful decoration. You can find other creative holiday recipes like this one online at www.ricekrispies.ca.

Rice Krispies Holiday House

Ingredients:

125 mL (1/2 cup) margarine or butter

500 g (2 pkg) (about 80) regular marshmallows or 10 cups miniature

5 mL (1 tsp) vanilla (optional)

3 L (12 cups) holiday Rice Krispies cereal

Prepared frosting

Gumdrops

Candy coated milk chocolate pieces

Red cinnamon candies

Powdered sugar

Candy sprinkles

Preparation:

1. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt 3 tablespoons margarine and 5 cups marshmallows and stir until completely melted. When marshmallows have melted, increase heat to medium and cook for two minutes longer or until mixture starts to boil. Stir in 1/2 tsp vanilla. Add 6 cups of cereal, stirring until well coated. Quickly press into 32 cm x 22 cm pan coated with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. While mixture is cooling repeat step one, pressing mixture evenly into a 40 cm x 26 cm pan lightly coated in cooking spray.

3. Assemble House: Turn the first pan of squares onto a foil lined tray with right side up. This will be the base of the house.

4. Cut the second pan of squares into six 12.5 cm x 9 cm rectangles while still in pan.

5. Remove the six cut pieces from the pan. Set aside the remainder of the mixture for chimney doors and windows.

6. Cut front and back walls. Angle sharp knife from left side wall to centre of front side wall and cut off corners. Repeat cut back wall.

7. Preheat oven to low heat. Place all cut pieces about 3 cm apart on a cookie sheet covered with cooking spray. Cook for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Reshape pieces with knife or spatula. Cool completely. Remove pieces from cookie sheet.

8. Generously pipe prepared frosting on each end of the side walls. Stand the front wall on the centre of the house base. Attach right side wall. Then attach the back and left side walls.

9. To attach roof, place prepared frosting around the top edges of the front and back wall. Attach remaining pieces to form the roof. Use reserved pieces to make chimney, a door and window. Use prepared frosting to attach pieces to house. Decorate with candy as desired. Use powdered sugar to resemble snow.

www.newscanada.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Gingerbread Candy Cane Syrup

Recipe ideas from the candy cane experts

(NC)—Gingerbread candy cane poached pears and candy cane mulled apple cider – this year there’s an answer to the question: What am I going to do with these candy canes?

“With a little sense of fun and some creativity anyone can come up with delicious ways to transform the candy cane during or after the holidays,” said Heather Brenzel, Director of Marketing and Innovation at The Allan Candy Company, maker of Canada’s Favourite Candy Cane. “To inspire some fresh thinking, we created a Gingerbread Candy Cane Syrup which can be used in desserts, savoury dishes and soothing winter beverages.” Find more creative candy cane recipes at www.canadasfavouritecandycane.com.

Gingerbread Candy Cane Syrup

Ingredients:

1 box (128 g) Allan Holiday Collection Gingerbread candy canes (9 candy canes)

1 1/2 cups (375 mL) water

3/4 cup (175 mL) dark brown sugar

1 inch (2.5 cm) fresh gingerroot, thinly sliced

1 3-inch (8 cm) cinnamon stick

4 whole cloves

Directions:

Break candy canes into large pieces; combine with water, sugar, gingerroot, cinnamon and cloves in a saucepan set over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until candy canes are completely melted. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Strain and discard solids. Transfer to a sealable glass jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one month. Makes 1 3/4 cups (425 mL). Recipe doubles easily.

Gingerbread Mulled Apple Cider

Incorporate the syrup into traditional apple cider by simply adding 1/4 cup of Gingerbread Candy Cane Syrup with 1 cup of and warm apple cider and 1 tbsp of fresh lemon or orange juice.

Also try Gingerbread Poached Pears:

Ingredients:

4 small pears, peeled, halved and cored

1 3/4 cup (425 mL) Gingerbread Candy Cane Syrup

1/2 cup (125 mL) 35% whipping cream

Directions:

Place pears in a saucepan and cover with syrup; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook, cover for 15 minutes or until pears are tender but still hold their shape. Remove pears from liquid and reserve. Simmer the remaining liquid for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Cool to room temperature. Whip cream with 2 tbsp (30 mL) of syrup until thick. Arrange 2 halves in a small dessert bowl. Drizzle with additional syrup and dollop with whipped cream. Makes 4 servings.

www.newscanada.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Scentsy wickless candles

Creating the most festive home for the holidays is every hostess’s goal – with red bows and twinkling lights, the aroma of cinnamon or evergreen and the classic sounds of Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby playing in the background.

“A warm, welcoming environment can stimulate our senses and evoke memories as we gather with our family and friends,” says Heidi Thompson, co-owner of Scentsy, a home fragrance company. “Some simple, advanced planning can help ease the stress of this hectic time. Every hostess should enjoy the season rather than fret over mismatched centerpieces or placement of home decor.”

A festive and safe holiday atmosphere is just moments away with these helpful hints:
* Picking the perfect evergreen: When selecting a live Christmas tree or evergreens, inspection is key to ensure it is truly fresh cut. Touch the branches to test for moistness of the needles and inspect the tree trunk. Many trees are painted to look fresher, and this can be discovered by inspecting the tree trunk. Once at home, position the evergreens away from heat sources and keep the tree stand filled with water to prevent it from drying out.

* A sweet-smelling atmosphere: Aromas of cinnamon, spiced grapefruit and peppermint bring a warm, inviting environment to any holiday party or family night together at home. Creating a fragrant home environment safely is simple with Scentsy wickless candles, which also add holiday decor accents to your home.

* Brightening the home: Whether white, multi-colored or twinkling, it’s important to examine Christmas lights when decorating indoors or outdoors. Check each strand for fraying wires and replace any burnt-out bulbs. Also, be careful when using ladders to hang lights and remember not to overload extension cords with too many strands.

* Storing for next year: To simplify next year’s transformation, organize decorations and clearly label each box. Give each box a number so you know where to start the decorating process. To avoid the inevitable ball of tangled lights, wrap each strand around a rolled up magazine. This will prevent any damage to the strands.

Advance preparation when transforming a home for the holidays can help make the season less stressful and more enjoyable. After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

-Norman Vincent Peale

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Wrap small boxes with gift wrap and ribbon and place along the tabletop for a fun touch of whimsy.

Tie curled ribbon around candle stick holders. This dresses up your regular table topper and adds a colourful touch.

Fill different glasses with water and float cranberries on top. Arrange as a centrepiece and add sparkle with floating candles.

Place Settings

If you don’t have a complete set of dishes or silverware, don’t dismay. Place mismatched dishes around the table and tie the look together with an accent colour, such as cheerful red napkins. This is a simple and inexpensive way to create a holiday table that is uniquely you.

Make a sleek silver cylinder of Nestlé After Eight mint chocolate Straws the focus of each place setting – it’s an eye-catching and thoughtful gift for your guests.

Add festive flare to everyday napkin rings by tying on jingle bells or tucking in sprigs of holly.

Place Cards

Print lines from your favourite holiday song, poem or story on each place card. It’s a nice conversation starter and will set the festive tone.

If you like to bake, why not make holiday cookies iced with each guest’s name or initial?

Anchor each place card with a minty After Eight Leaf chocolate as a sweet treat for your guests.

A few creative ideas can make a designer-style holiday table that will dazzle your guests, without taking a bite out of your wallet. Bon appétit!

www.newscanada.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

‘Tis the season for holiday baking – it’s better with butter

(ARA) – When it comes to whipping up holiday treats, butter is definitely better. You’re gearing up for the season and will be spending lots of quality time with the herd. Spend time with your own family in the kitchen this holiday season and bake up special memories.

Found in almost every pantry, butter’s unique flavor, melting and cooking properties make it a great ingredient for cake and cookie recipes, frostings, candies and more.

Butter has been used for cooking for centuries – according to legend, it originated when a traveler somewhere transported a container of fresh milk and unwittingly churned the cream to butter with each step. As you begin to break out the baking sheets and cookie cutters for the holiday season, here are some tips to ensure your goodies look and taste fabulous straight from the oven:

Baking with butter tips from California happy cows Janice and Diane:

* Most baking recipes call for unsalted butter (also referred to as sweet butter). However, salted and unsalted butter can be substituted for each other if necessary.

* It’s best to use unsalted butter when baking – you will have more control over the flavor since the amount of salt in salted butter varies among brands.

* Many recipes call for a greased pan. Rubbing a stick of butter along the sides and bottom of your baking dish or baking sheet will ensure nothing sticks during removal.

* Read recipes carefully to know what temperature the butter should be for baking. Some recipes call for softened butter or melted butter, while recipes for dough usually call for cold or hard butter for a flakier texture.

* Use only sticks of butter when baking to ensure even measurements. Measuring is easy using the printed measurement on the wrapper:

1/4 pound = 1 stick = 1/2 cup
1 pound = 4 sticks = 2 cups

* Some butter packaging is stamped with a “best used by” date, intended to tell how long the product will be at top eating quality. It can be kept at room temperature for short periods of time, but should be refrigerated to maintain peak flavor.

Did you know that California produces more butter than any other state in the U.S. and exported 555 million pounds in 2008? Look for the Real California Milk seal on packages of butter, which certifies it’s made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.

Cupcakes are one of our favorite treats, and a popular baking trend that has inspired both pastry chefs and home bakers alike. Here is a perfect recipe featuring traditional flavors that everyone is sure to love.

Gingerbread Cupcakes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
For cupcakes:
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup very hot water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons unsalted California butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

For frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted California butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 small gingerbread-man cookies

Directions:
Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour insides of 12 muffin cups or insert paper liners. Mix molasses, hot water and baking soda together in a large bowl. Cool to room temperature. With an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. In a large bowl, sift together salt, ginger, cinnamon, flour and baking powder. In three additions, alternately add dry ingredients and molasses mixture to butter mixture. Mix thoroughly after each addition to make sure there are no lumps.
Evenly divide batter between cupcake molds. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pans. Cool completely before frosting

Frosting:
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add butter, sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth. If cream cheese is very soft, refrigerate for 30 minutes. With a piping bag, swirl cream cheese frosting on top of each cupcake. (You can also frost them with a table knife or small spatula.) Place a gingerbread-man cookie on top of frosting or wedge the cookie into each cupcake.

For more recipes, visit www.realcaliforniamilk.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The National Christmas Tree

Also, visit Christmas Town for a behind-the-scenes look at the 2006 National Tree.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Here’s a screenshot of the Magical Christmas WordPress Theme:

Magical Christmas WordPress Theme

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

A frozen, pre-stuffed, ready to cook turkey eliminates a significant amount of preparation and clean up time.

The picture-perfect turkey and all the fixings—it’s what the whole family looks forward to every year at Christmas. However, with today’s hectic schedules, there’s not enough time to fuss over the holiday feast. This leaves many cooks in search of quick and easy meal solutions, even during the tradition-steeped holidays.

Because holiday time means quality time, Butterball staffers offer the following suggestions on how you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your family.

Start with the turkey. A frozen, pre-stuffed, ready to cook turkey eliminates a significant amount of preparation and clean up time. You simply remove the package and place the turkey in a roasting pan. Then brush the skin with vegetable oil and pop it in the oven. How easy is that?

Grocery stores offer several convenient ready to cook vegetables (potatoes, carrots, broccoli, squash, etc.). With the prep already done all you need to do is decide the cooking method.

A selection of pre-made salad is available in your grocer’s produce section. Just transfer the salad to a beautiful serving bowl to make it part of your festive feast.

Dessert options are endless… a triple chocolate concoction from the corner bakery, your favourite creamy cheesecake from the club store or plum pudding from your grocer.

This year don’t stress. Give yourself the gift of time with these time saver ideas from Butterball. (Turkey Talk-Line 1-800-BUTTERBALL)

www.newscanada.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Create a festive table-top display with fully decorated Norfolk Island Pines.

(ARA) – From harvest festivals to tailgate football parties, the colorful fall season is in full swing. Crisp air and cooler nights signal the holidays are right around the corner.

If you’re looking for ways to add a festive and unique touch to your home, think live plants. Rather than rummaging through basements and attics for holiday decorations or buying yet another centerpiece, decorating with plants adds long-lasting year-round style and cheer to any home.

“Live plants are a perfect way to add instant holiday style to any home and they’re affordable and eco-friendly,” says Justin W. Hancock, editor of Better Homes and Gardens online (BHG.com).

These “green heroes” also provide oxygen and clean the indoor air as they provide holiday warmth and year-round pleasure.

Make a dramatic holiday display by your fireplace with Norfolk Island Pines.

Here are some tips from the plant pros at Costa Farms to add live plants for holiday charm:

* Enhance your home’s proportions and style.
Whether you live in a traditional stately home or small apartment, live plants add dimension and texture to any space. Long-lasting indoor plants, like the affordable Norfolk Island Pine, fit any lifestyle and decor.

“ Decorating with live plants like the Norfolk Island Pine is a home trend, “says Hancock. “Miniature evergreens work in a container on the mantel, as a centerpiece in the middle of the table or decorated in the kids’ room for fun.”

Small enough for a table-top display or large enough to be a dramatic focal point of any room, they tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. From 14 to 44 inches tall, the Norfolk Island Pines come fully decorated, or ready for your creative touch with mini lights and homemade ornaments.

* Instantly change the atmosphere of any room.
Think of the impact you want to make in your living, family or dining room. The color and the shape of the plants, arranged in simple containers or elaborate planters, can grab attention as a focal point or be an understated accent for larger pieces.

Group Christmas cactus in decorative containers, add candles and ribbon for an instant ornamental display.

“Mini moth orchids are a great choice for people looking for a dramatic centerpiece for their dining room table,” says Hancock. “Their exotic shape and stunning colors enhance any size room.”

Mini orchids are readily available, require easy care, are affordable, and provide months of blooms with little to no effort.

These beauties come in a wide range of colors in both 3-inch and 6-inch pots. Use as a standalone or group them on a seasonal table runner for a striking centerpiece. Add a sprig of greens and voila – you have instant high impact with a low price tag.

* Select plant-friendly locations.
Ever pass by a display of holiday plants and linger over the Christmas cactus? This tropical plant has flattened leaf-like structures with tips of ruffled flowers that range in color from reds and fuchsia to oranges and creams.

“Christmas cactus is a houseplant that looks great during the holidays and will provide years of pleasure,” adds Hancock. “Give it attention and the right location and you can enjoy blooms several times throughout the year.”

Group them in a decorative container and add sprigs of greenery for an instant ornamental display. Place them on your kitchen countertops or windowsills for a cheery touch throughout the holidays and year-round.

* Use color for greater design impact.
Do you have a space you want to accentuate, or do you need to fill a hollow area that is bare and boring? Poinsettias can add a punch of vivid red, white and pink living color for your holidays.

They love bright locations and can liven up any room or space that needs a joyful color accent. And they make a perfect gift.

“Poinsettias, like gingerbread houses, symbolize the holiday season,” says Hancock. “Their bright colors and graceful beauty capture the essence of the holidays.”

This seasonal must-have likes humidity – but don’t over-water. Display them in mono-color groupings for a bold statement or mix them up like living art.

With these simple tips you can enjoy the fall knowing it’s easy to spruce up your home with festive live plants and share the holiday spirit with friends and family. For more information on these holiday plants or to find a retailer near you, visit www.costafarms.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.